Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell met with the media on Monday, the first day of preparation for the team’s season-opening matchup with the Green Bay Packers.Here are the highlights from that session.
The hype means nothing, the criticism means nothing.
Forget all the Xs and Os. There's no other coach I'd want leading this team into Green Bay or anywhere else. I tell friends of other teams, "Bet you wish your coach was a freak like Dan, don'tcha, don'tcha..."
The interwebs reveal that Parsons had 5 tackles and 1 assist against the Lions last year. Seems to me they handled him pretty well last year as a Cowboy, no reason to think he's going to make that big an impact in GB. What should scare Packer fans more is the two number one picks and what Parson's contract is going to do to their cap situation going forward...
From the game logs I could find, Parsons didn't play against the Lions last year. I did see that he had 10 tackles and 2 sacks in 2 games against the Lions in 2022 and 2023 both sacks were in 2022. Either way, it does seem like the Lions handled him pretty well.
I think it might matter that the Lions are again falling down the hype scale. I see some having them finish third behind Minny and GB. That means more pressure on those teams to live up to the hype. If the Lions aren't favored, so what?
The loss of the coordinators is very much overblown. You can't tell me that the players are going to play with less "verve" and "power" because a few of the bosses left town. Campbell still runs the main show and that will keep things mostly glued together.
There are very few teams that can match the Lions personnel wise. That "brutal" schedule thing is based on last year's results. Some of those tough teams might not be so tough and maybe a few are tougher. There will be no room for the Lions to be complacent similar to the playoffs last year.
I don’t think they were complacent against Washington. I think that it’s an incorrect conclusion I think the defense, with all the injuries, was finally broken beyond their ability to bend.
Jayden played smart and they had a game plan that just kept succeeding on long 3rd downs. He had enough time in the pocket to back up and then move forward pulling the defender in to stop the run and he'd just toss over to keep connecting in the middle of the defense near the sideline. Even when he should of missed, the receivers made plays.
What’s the difference between playing smarter, executing better and taking advantage of your opponents lack of defensive health on that particular game day?
Is there a difference?
Is it one or two of them? All three combined?
Just one example of many, but one gaff was the interception thrown by Jamo; definitely a lack of execution (and judgment for that matter).
I don’t think that play would have been called at all if there was confidence the defense would hold.
You’re not wrong about that for sure, but the defense made it impossible to play complimentary football which partly created and further exacerbated the offensive problems
Goff tried to win the game alone. Came close. My take is losing Robertson early in the game made it clear it was going to be a shootout. Not necessarily Goff's forte.
But it was Robertson goong down that cost the game. The Lions were left playing with one quality CB and insufficient talent on the DL to hassle the QB, leaving one CB totally exposed.
Fans are weird. Why would they concern themselves with where Morton is on gameday? The sideline is the worst seat in the house for the big picture, the booth is actually the best. Most NCAA teams have their play caller in the booth for that reason. Mark Brunnell, Marques Tuiasosopo and the b/u QB Allen will be Goff’s guys on the sideline.
I sat in the first couple rows at games, it's fun to see the players on the sidelines close up, but very poor perspective of the game. I would definitely sit up top where I could see the plays develop better. I guess these coaches spent a lifetime coaching and playing so can see a lot more than I can at field level.
“Fans are weird” is dead-on. Football fans, especially. The knives will be out, immediately, for Morton, if the offense is not great next weekend. Which is crazy.
Justin, the audio of the questions from the pool of reporters was so much clearer. It was a welcome change from normal. What changed?
Nothing that I could tell. Just know, the Lions have worked at this constantly for years.
The hype means nothing, the criticism means nothing.
Forget all the Xs and Os. There's no other coach I'd want leading this team into Green Bay or anywhere else. I tell friends of other teams, "Bet you wish your coach was a freak like Dan, don'tcha, don'tcha..."
A few loses to start the season and you will be surprised how fast people turn on MCDC, especially if Chicago wins out the gate.
The interwebs reveal that Parsons had 5 tackles and 1 assist against the Lions last year. Seems to me they handled him pretty well last year as a Cowboy, no reason to think he's going to make that big an impact in GB. What should scare Packer fans more is the two number one picks and what Parson's contract is going to do to their cap situation going forward...
From the game logs I could find, Parsons didn't play against the Lions last year. I did see that he had 10 tackles and 2 sacks in 2 games against the Lions in 2022 and 2023 both sacks were in 2022. Either way, it does seem like the Lions handled him pretty well.
For what Parsons can do to an offense they did alright. I think he ended the the one game beating Decker with a strip sack on Goff.
I think it might matter that the Lions are again falling down the hype scale. I see some having them finish third behind Minny and GB. That means more pressure on those teams to live up to the hype. If the Lions aren't favored, so what?
The loss of the coordinators is very much overblown. You can't tell me that the players are going to play with less "verve" and "power" because a few of the bosses left town. Campbell still runs the main show and that will keep things mostly glued together.
There are very few teams that can match the Lions personnel wise. That "brutal" schedule thing is based on last year's results. Some of those tough teams might not be so tough and maybe a few are tougher. There will be no room for the Lions to be complacent similar to the playoffs last year.
I don’t think they were complacent against Washington. I think that it’s an incorrect conclusion I think the defense, with all the injuries, was finally broken beyond their ability to bend.
Jayden played smart and they had a game plan that just kept succeeding on long 3rd downs. He had enough time in the pocket to back up and then move forward pulling the defender in to stop the run and he'd just toss over to keep connecting in the middle of the defense near the sideline. Even when he should of missed, the receivers made plays.
What’s the difference between playing smarter, executing better and taking advantage of your opponents lack of defensive health on that particular game day?
Is there a difference?
Is it one or two of them? All three combined?
Just one example of many, but one gaff was the interception thrown by Jamo; definitely a lack of execution (and judgment for that matter).
I don’t think that play would have been called at all if there was confidence the defense would hold.
Four interceptions and a lost fumble were more to blame.
You’re not wrong about that for sure, but the defense made it impossible to play complimentary football which partly created and further exacerbated the offensive problems
Goff tried to win the game alone. Came close. My take is losing Robertson early in the game made it clear it was going to be a shootout. Not necessarily Goff's forte.
But it was Robertson goong down that cost the game. The Lions were left playing with one quality CB and insufficient talent on the DL to hassle the QB, leaving one CB totally exposed.
Fans are weird. Why would they concern themselves with where Morton is on gameday? The sideline is the worst seat in the house for the big picture, the booth is actually the best. Most NCAA teams have their play caller in the booth for that reason. Mark Brunnell, Marques Tuiasosopo and the b/u QB Allen will be Goff’s guys on the sideline.
I sat in the first couple rows at games, it's fun to see the players on the sidelines close up, but very poor perspective of the game. I would definitely sit up top where I could see the plays develop better. I guess these coaches spent a lifetime coaching and playing so can see a lot more than I can at field level.
“Fans are weird” is dead-on. Football fans, especially. The knives will be out, immediately, for Morton, if the offense is not great next weekend. Which is crazy.
Yep, to be seen on TV every week
Ben was on the sideline because he wanted to be a head coach.